Fullerton police make use-of-force data public

FULLERTON – The Police Department has conducted 825 internal investigations over the past five years, with 114 of those probes stemming from use-of-force incidents, according to documents made public this week.

Of the investigations, 242 resulted in discipline being imposed, mostly in the form of reprimands. There were 25 suspensions, one demotion and six terminations.

Since 2007, Fullerton Police has handled 157 citizen complaints, with 20 resulting in officer discipline, according to the documents now posted on the website cityoffullerton.com.

Providing the public with statistics related to use-of-force and officer discipline is among the 59 recommendations by an independent investigator in the wake of the July 2011 death of Kelly Thomas after a confrontation with officers; three former officers face trial. All three have pleaded not guilty.

"When we can legally provide information to the community, we want to be able to do that," said Cpt. Dan Hughes, the acting police chief. "The concept is to be as transparent as possible. It can only benefit the department and the community."

Non-force investigations could stem from traffic accidents involving police personnel, not showing up for court, or failing to turn on a digital-recording device when required. "It's a broad spectrum of situations that we look at," Hughes said.

Since 2007, there have been 184 in-custody injuries, 90 resulting from force. In all but two of the 90, investigations concluded that officers acted within policy, the documents show. In-custody injuries could include a person being injured in a bar fight before being arrested, Hughes said.